PublicationsInsights on Current Policy Issues

This memorandum will provide a survey of federal action on cryptocurrencies (aka virtual currencies), including enforcement and guidance. At present, some federal regulators have begun asserting oversight and enforcement authority under their existing powers while other potential regulators have not yet indicated publicly what, if any, oversight they will exercise. Other federal stakeholders on cryptocurrencies have also begun to engage. However, the U.S. government’s approach to virtual currencies remains fluid.

This memorandum will provide a survey of federal action on cryptocurrencies (aka virtual currencies), including enforcement and guidance. At present, some federal regulators have begun asserting oversight and enforcement authority under their existing powers while other potential regulators have not yet indicated publicly what, if any, oversight they will exercise. Other federal stakeholders on cryptocurrencies have also begun to engage. However, the U.S. government’s approach to virtual currencies remains fluid.

This memorandum will provide a survey of federal action on cryptocurrencies (aka virtual currencies), including enforcement and guidance. At present, some federal regulators have begun asserting oversight and enforcement authority under their existing powers while other potential regulators have not yet indicated publicly what, if any, oversight they will exercise. Other federal stakeholders on cryptocurrencies have also begun to engage. However, the U.S. government’s approach to virtual currencies remains fluid.

Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act--Agreement:

Senate resumed consideration of H.R. 6147, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:

Moran (for Johnson) Amendment No. 3436 (to Amendment No. 3399), to require the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to submit a report on implementation of NexGen at commercial service airports in the United States.

Moran (for Collins) Amendment No. 3595 (to Amendment No. 3399), to prohibit the use of funds to enforce certain requirements with respect to added sugars in the rules issued by the Food and Drug Administration on nutrition labels.

Moran (for Reed) Amendment No. 3608 (to Amendment No. 3399), to prohibit the use of funds to implement certain new policies of the Federal Transit Administration relating to the Capital Investment Grant program.

Moran (for Toomey) Amendment No. 3613 (to Amendment No. 3399), to set aside funds for the United States Semiquincentennial Commission.

Moran (for Jones) Amendment No. 3615 (to Amendment No. 3399), to require the Small Business Administration to conduct a study on matchmaking programs for veteran entrepreneurs.

Moran (for Peters/Young) Amendment No. 3621 (to Amendment No. 3399), to require the Comptroller General of the United States to issue a report on the removal of lead-based paint and other hazardous materials.

Moran (for Cardin) Amendment No. 3633 (to Amendment No. 3399), to require a report on Federal agency compliance with respect to establishing an Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.

Moran (for McConnell) Amendment No. 3645 (to Amendment No. 3399), to prohibit the use of funds for the enforcement of certain requirements with respect to certain roads.

Moran (for Boozman) Amendment No. 3646 (to Amendment No. 3399), to provide funding to the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct an inventory and evaluation of certain land for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Moran (for Shaheen) Amendment No. 3650 (to Amendment No. 3399), to provide for the conduct of a study to identify underlying contributing factors for pediatric cancer that are unique to certain States and to provide assistance to support States with a high incidence of such cancer.

Moran (for Murphy) Amendment No. 3651 (to Amendment No. 3399), to require a study on the financial impact of the mineral pyrrhotite in concrete home foundations.

Moran (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 3670 (to Amendment No. 3399), to prohibit funds made available to the Federal Transit Administration from being used for the procurement of rolling stock from manufacturers supported by certain foreign governments.

Moran (for Heitkamp) Amendment No. 3676 (to Amendment No. 3399), to provide an additional $2,000,000 for hiring staff for tribal detention facilities by reducing the amounts made available through the Working Capital Fund of the Department of the Interior.

Moran (for Blumenthal) Amendment No. 3677 (to Amendment No. 3399), to require the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to grant a discount to members of the public benefit corporation Veterans Advantage.

Moran (for Warner) Amendment No. 3679 (to Amendment No. 3399), to provide that up to $6,000,000 be used for UAS integration activities.

During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:

By 94 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. 175), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on Shelby Amendment No. 3399 (listed above).

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding Rule XXII, the motion to invoke cloture on the bill be withdrawn; that the only remaining amendments in order be the following: Leahy Amendment No. 3464, Lee Amendment No. 3522, Baldwin Amendment No. 3524, and Cruz Amendment No. 3402; and that at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, all post-cloture time be yielded back and Senate vote on or in relation to the amendments in the order listed, that Leahy Amendment No. 3464, Lee Amendment No. 3522, and Baldwin Amendment No. 3524, be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold, and that following the disposition of Cruz Amendment No. 3402, Murkowski Amendment No. 3400 be withdrawn, Shelby Amendment No. 3399, as amended, be agreed to, and Senate vote on passage of the bill, with two minutes of debate prior to each vote in the series.

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 10 a.m., on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.

House Messages:

National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act:

By 86 yeas to 12 nays (Vote No. 173), Senate agreed to the motion to concur in the amendments of the House of Representatives to S. 1182, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint commemorative coins in recognition of the 100th anniversary of The American Legion, after taking action on the following motions and amendments proposed thereto:

Withdrawn:

McConnell motion to refer the message of the House on the bill to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, with instructions, McConnell Amendment No. 3630, to change the enactment date.

McConnell motion to concur in the amendment of the House to the bill, with McConnell Amendment No. 3628 (to the House Amendment to the bill), to change the enactment date.

During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the motion to invoke cloture on McConnell motion to concur in the amendments of the House to the bill, be withdrawn.

McConnell Amendment No. 3631 (to (the instructions) Amendment No. 3630), of a perfecting nature, fell when McConnell motion to refer the message of the House on the bill to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, with instructions, McConnell Amendment No. 3630 (listed above), was withdrawn.

McConnell Amendment No. 3629 (to Amendment No. 3628), of a perfecting nature, fell when McConnell motion to concur in the amendment of the House to the bill, with McConnell Amendment No. 3628 (to the House Amendment to the bill) (listed above), was withdrawn.

Agriculture and Nutrition Act:

Senate insisted on its amendment to H.R. 2, to provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2023, agreed to the request of the House for a conference, and authorized the Chair to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate at a ratio of 5 to 4.

Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:

By 52 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. EX. 174), Britt Cagle Grant, of Georgia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.

Today

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.6147, Appropriations Minibus II (Interior/FSGG/THUD/Ag). There will be a series of roll call votes at 11:00am. Those votes are listed below.

Upon disposition of the Minibus II, there will be a cloture vote on the conference report to accompany H.R.5515, NDAA. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours of debate on the conference report. We expect a budget point of order to be made and a motion to waive raised and voted on prior to a vote on adoption of the conference report.

Energy

H.R.6644 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)To suspend proposed rulemaking signed by former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (Introduced 07/31/2018) Cosponsors: (0)Committees: House - Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Science, Space, and TechnologyLatest Action: House - 07/31/2018 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of...

S.3312 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)A bill to suspend proposed rulemaking signed by former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 07/31/2018) Cosponsors: (0)Committees: Senate - Environment and Public WorksLatest Action: Senate - 07/31/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Health

H.R.6646 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize services to be provided to individuals with Alzheimers disease or a related disorder with neurological and organic brain dysfunction who have not attained 60 years of age.Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4] (Introduced 07/31/2018) Cosponsors: (0)Committees: House - Education and the WorkforceLatest Action: House - 07/31/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.6642 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to sunset the limit on the maximum rebate amount for single source drugs and innovator multiple source drugs.Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] (Introduced 07/31/2018) Cosponsors: (0)Committees: House - Energy and CommerceLatest Action: House - 07/31/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce

H.R.6641 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit health insurance issuers, group health plans, Medicare Advantage organizations, and prescription drug plan sponsors from limiting drug price information a pharmacy may give to a consumer.Sponsor: Rep. Paulsen, Erik [R-MN-3] (Introduced 07/31/2018) Cosponsors: (1)Committees: House - Energy and Commerce, Ways and MeansLatest Action: House - 07/31/2018 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee...

S.3305 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish rules for payment for graduate medical education (GME) costs for hospitals that establish a new medical residency training program after hosting resident rotators for short durations.Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (Introduced 07/31/2018) Cosponsors: (1)Committees: Senate - FinanceLatest Action: Senate - 07/31/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

PublicationsInsights on Current Policy Issues

This memorandum will provide a survey of federal action on cryptocurrencies (aka virtual currencies), including enforcement and guidance. At present, some federal regulators have begun asserting oversight and enforcement authority under their existing powers while other potential regulators have not yet indicated publicly what, if any, oversight they will exercise. Other federal stakeholders on cryptocurrencies have also begun to engage. However, the U.S. government’s approach to virtual currencies remains fluid.

This memorandum will provide a survey of federal action on cryptocurrencies (aka virtual currencies), including enforcement and guidance. At present, some federal regulators have begun asserting oversight and enforcement authority under their existing powers while other potential regulators have not yet indicated publicly what, if any, oversight they will exercise. Other federal stakeholders on cryptocurrencies have also begun to engage. However, the U.S. government’s approach to virtual currencies remains fluid.

This memorandum will provide a survey of federal action on cryptocurrencies (aka virtual currencies), including enforcement and guidance. At present, some federal regulators have begun asserting oversight and enforcement authority under their existing powers while other potential regulators have not yet indicated publicly what, if any, oversight they will exercise. Other federal stakeholders on cryptocurrencies have also begun to engage. However, the U.S. government’s approach to virtual currencies remains fluid.